49ers ready for challenge from defending ACC champion Florida State

Charlotte's Willie Clayton passes the ball to a teammate as he and Davidson's Tyler Kalinoski scramble for the ball during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game, on Dec. 5 in Davidson.

The Associated Press

By Richard Walker

Published: Friday, December 21, 2012 at 01:16 PM.

CHARLOTTE – When the Charlotte 49ers got off to a school-record 9-0 start, the loss that ended the surge – a 77-46 loss at the ACC’s Miami last Friday – was considered by some an indication that the team wasn’t ready to make a leap to the “big time.”

Well, on Saturday at 2 p.m. when the 49ers host defending ACC champion Florida State at the NBA Charlotte Bobcats’ Time Warner Cable Arena, they’ll get a second and perhaps final chance to show their improvement this season.

“I feel like any opponent we play, we have something to prove,” said Charlotte point guard and leading scorer Pierria Henry after Wednesday’s 68-52 win over Radford. “We want to let people know Charlotte basketball is trying to make it to the big dance. I believe we have that team and chemistry and bond to get there. We just have to play our game and not let a loss that we took get to our head. You have to learn from your mistakes and move on.”

Since Wednesday’s victory marked the second straight win after their lone defeat, it’s clear the 49ers did learn from that defeat.

So much so that the current 11-1 record is tied for the second-fastest start in school history – and only behind the 13-1 mark set by the school’s historic 1977 Final Four team led by eventual NBA star Cedric Maxwell.

Third-year coach Alan Major is happy with his team’s progress, but also recognizes there is work to be done and the team’s Atlantic 10 Conference schedule won’t start until the Jan. 9 home game against LaSalle.

“I’m more process-oriented when it comes to goals,” Major said. “My thought was ‘Let’s max ourselves out.’ Defensively, we want to chip away game-by-game, month-by-month and be the best defensive team we can be. Offensively, month-by-month, let’s chip away at being more efficient and be the best offensive team we can be.”

CHARLOTTE – When the Charlotte 49ers got off to a school-record 9-0 start, the loss that ended the surge – a 77-46 loss at the ACC’s Miami last Friday – was considered by some an indication that the team wasn’t ready to make a leap to the “big time.”

Well, on Saturday at 2 p.m. when the 49ers host defending ACC champion Florida State at the NBA Charlotte Bobcats’ Time Warner Cable Arena, they’ll get a second and perhaps final chance to show their improvement this season.

“I feel like any opponent we play, we have something to prove,” said Charlotte point guard and leading scorer Pierria Henry after Wednesday’s 68-52 win over Radford. “We want to let people know Charlotte basketball is trying to make it to the big dance. I believe we have that team and chemistry and bond to get there. We just have to play our game and not let a loss that we took get to our head. You have to learn from your mistakes and move on.”

Since Wednesday’s victory marked the second straight win after their lone defeat, it’s clear the 49ers did learn from that defeat.

So much so that the current 11-1 record is tied for the second-fastest start in school history – and only behind the 13-1 mark set by the school’s historic 1977 Final Four team led by eventual NBA star Cedric Maxwell.

Third-year coach Alan Major is happy with his team’s progress, but also recognizes there is work to be done and the team’s Atlantic 10 Conference schedule won’t start until the Jan. 9 home game against LaSalle.

“I’m more process-oriented when it comes to goals,” Major said. “My thought was ‘Let’s max ourselves out.’ Defensively, we want to chip away game-by-game, month-by-month and be the best defensive team we can be. Offensively, month-by-month, let’s chip away at being more efficient and be the best offensive team we can be.”

With a youthful team that starts sophomores Henry and former West Mecklenburg High standout Terrence Williams and freshmen Darion Clark, Willie Clayton and Denzel Ingram, it’s fairly obvious the team is showing improvement.

“I think that loss to Miami really woke us up,” said Henry, named MVP during the 49ers’ late November Great Alaska Shootout championship run. “That game is not the kind of team that we are.”

What’s left unsaid is that Saturday’s game offers the kind of opportunity to show what kind of team Charlotte has – and gain some national respect. Unless the 49ers meet an ACC team in the postseason, its their last chance to play a team from that league this year.

“We’ve got to come out there with energy,” said Thompson, a 2007 Hope Christian Academy who transferred from Virginia Tech after suffered serious knee injuries before each of the past two seasons. “I feel like we play with anybody, especially when we play with energy. We just have to get our mind ready from the start.”

Major doesn’t want to put too much pressure on this contest. But he does realize that for his fan base, which is almost always surrounded by fans of ACC schools.

“Anytime you win a game, the next game doesn’t owe you anything,” Major said. “It’s like in the real world where you have to go out every day and earn it. But I am happy with the way they’re trying to be a team.”

Richard Walker: 704-869-1841; twitter.com/JRWalk22

Home away from home?

Since the Charlotte began playing basketball in 1965, the 49ers have had 10 home venues, including on-campus Halton Arena since 1996. Saturday’s game with Florida State marks the fourth game at the NBA Charlotte Bobcats’ Time Warner Cable Arena. Here’s how the 49ers have done:

Nov. 29, 2007 Wake Forest (Won 63-59)

Jan. 5, 2008 Maryland (Lost 72-76)

Dec. 17, 2010 Tennessee (Won 49-48)

Homecoming for duo

For Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton and sophomore guard Terry Whisnant, Saturday’s 2 p.m. game with the Charlotte 49ers is a homecoming.

Hamilton is a 1966 graduate of old Highland High School and Whisnant is a 2011 Cherryville High graduate.

Hamilton is in his 11th year as Seminoles’ coach and has guided Florida State to a 185-131 record and last year’s ACC championship.

Whisnant spend his freshman year as a backup guard, but this season he’s joined the starting lineup and is averaging 6.7 points and 1.4 rebounds while shooting 47.9 percent from the field (41.9 percent on 3-pointers) in 10 games (six starts).